Associate Professor Martin Mulligan has a background in ecological science and human geography. He teaches on topics related to sustainability, resilience, governance, Social Impact Assessment, and community engagement. He has published extensively on the seductive appeal of 'community' in an insecure world and his current research is focusing on resilience thinking and 'decentred governance' of complex socio-ecological challenges. He completed a major study on social recovery from the 2004 tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka and he has maintained research relationships with a people and organisations in Sri Lanka.

Associate Professor Mulligan teaches at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the Sustainability and Urban Planning program within the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University in Melbouirne. He is also a senior researcher in RMIT's Centre for Urban Research where he participates in research related to resilience thinking and decentred urban governance.

Martin has conducted research for AusAID, the Australia Council for the Arts, VicHealth, Regional Arts Victoria, and the Foundation of Goodness in Sri Lanka. He is an associate of the Social Policy Analysis and Research Centre at the University of Colombo, Sir Lanka.

Towards an integrated evaluation framework for intrinsic and instrumental benefits of community-based arts. Administered by The University of Melbourne. Funded by: ARC Linkage Projects via other University pre-2014 from (2010 to 2013)

Indigenous Cultural Festivals: Evaluating Impact on Community Health and Wellbeing. Funded by: Telstra Foundation Community Development Fund from (2007 to 2009)